Fall 2020 Semester Calendar

Dear campus community,

As we look ahead toward the Fall 2020 semester, it remains our goal at UNCG – and across the UNC System – to open our doors for the return of students, faculty, and staff to our campus. It is clear, however, that the experience this fall will be different than anything in recent memory. It will require everyone to make significant adjustments to ensure the safety of our extended community – especially those most at risk. For the best possible outcome, we all must be vigilant in our commitment to the health of our campus community. While there are many operational details still under discussion, we have made several vital decisions about our Fall Academic Calendar:

• The academic year will start on time (Semester opens Aug.10; First day of classes: Aug.18).
• We will eliminate Fall Break and Reading Day in order to end classes at the traditional Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 24).
• Final exams will be online except for classes that absolutely require certain clinical assessments or lab-based work (Nov. 30-Dec. 5).
• Commencement will remain on schedule for December 11, with event details to be determined later based on public health mandates and directives.

A more detailed calendar is below. Please continue to monitor our online calendar and, especially for new students, our SOAR website for changes and updates on orientation sessions.

This plan reduces the need for people to leave campus, disperse widely, and then return in the middle of the semester. Limiting movement is key for managing virus spread. It also enables us to maintain the necessary instructional days required to meet our academic standards and best serve our students.

In addition to the calendar changes, we are currently assessing all of the other implications of COVID-19 on our operations. We will maintain maximum flexibility in our planning, knowing that conditions may evolve over the summer. We hope you understand that we all must be adaptable, and we will do our best to keep you informed as important decisions are made.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we navigate this complex landscape.

Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.

Detailed Academic Calendar